by 509 reviews.
SK hynix Tube T31 1TB Stick Type SSD Review: A Portable Powerhouse for Gamers and Professionals
The SK hynix Tube T31 1TB Stick Type SSD is a high-performance external solid-state drive that combines speed, portability, and versatility into a sleek, pocket-sized design. With data transfer speeds of up to 1,000MB/s (10Gbps), this SSD is perfect for gamers, professionals, and anyone who needs fast and reliable storage on the go. Its compatibility with gaming consoles like PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One, as well as Windows PCs and Macs, makes it a versatile choice for a wide range of users.
Pros and Cons: What Customers Are Saying
1. Speed and Performance
One of the standout features of the SK hynix Tube T31 is its blazing-fast speed. Customers have praised its ability to handle large file transfers with ease. One reviewer noted, "It works as advertised and speeds are decent while holding a ton of stuff." Another user highlighted its performance, saying, "I was amazed how fast the thing was reading and writing."
However, some users pointed out that the drive’s speed can be bottlenecked by older USB ports or hubs. As one reviewer mentioned, "It was effectively slowed when I used my USB hub and the card reader, but that was for experimental purposes."
2. Build Quality and Design
The Tube T31’s compact and lightweight design has been a hit with users who value portability. One customer described it as "an amazing palm-sized external hard drive," while another appreciated its "sleek design."
However, the build quality has received mixed feedback. While the drive is functional and durable, some users were disappointed by its plastic construction. One reviewer, who had previously built a similar device using an aluminum case, noted, "This decision, while likely made for good reasons, also means that they needed to fit an additional thermal solution inside the case." This resulted in a slightly bulkier design compared to custom-built alternatives.
Another common complaint was the detachable cap, which is not tethered to the device. As one user pointed out, "The cap is likely to get lost immediately, since it’s just friction fit and not connected to the device at all when loose."
3. Compatibility and Ease of Use
The Tube T31’s wide compatibility with gaming consoles, PCs, and Macs has been a major selling point. One user shared, "I bought this to transfer files from one computer to another. It is quite fast and has plenty of space." Another reviewer appreciated its plug-and-play functionality, stating, "It’s good from the box and a sleek design."
However, some users noted the need for additional adapters for USB-C compatibility. As one reviewer advised, "Get a USB-C adapter and find a longer one so it plays well with the old USB hound dog."
4. Value for Money
Many customers found the Tube T31 to be a reasonably priced option for its performance and storage capacity. One user said, "Grab this on sale and get yourself a deal." Another reviewer appreciated its affordability, stating, "It’s a reasonably priced option that didn’t intimidate me from the start."
However, some users felt that the plastic construction and slightly bulkier design detracted from its overall value. As one reviewer put it, "For me, it takes it down from perfect to just ok."
Conclusion: Is the SK hynix Tube T31 Worth It?
The SK hynix Tube T31 1TB Stick Type SSD is a solid choice for anyone in need of a fast, portable, and versatile external storage solution. Its impressive speed, wide compatibility, and compact design make it ideal for gamers, professionals, and everyday users alike.
However, the plastic construction and detachable cap may be drawbacks for some users, particularly those who prioritize durability and aesthetics. Additionally, while the drive performs exceptionally well, its speed can be limited by older USB ports or hubs.
Final Verdict: If you’re looking for a reliable, high-performance external SSD that won’t break the bank, the SK hynix Tube T31 is an excellent choice. While it may not be perfect, it delivers on its promises and offers great value for its price.
Specification SK hynix Tube T31 1TB Stick Type SSD with DRAM | up to 1000MB/s | 10 Gbps | USB-A 3.2 Gen2 | External Solid State Flash Drive Compatible with PS4, PS5, Xbox, Window PC & Mac:
Comments from Amazon:
Fast, high-capacity SSD equivalent. It's larger than the average thumb drive, unless your thumb is abnormally large. Perfect for transferring files and backup.
Let me preface this by saying that I have particular expectations for a product like this because of personal history. If I was coming into this without those prior expectations I would rate it as excellent. I think most people just looking for a device like this would be more than satisfied with it. That said, I personally was slightly disappointed. A couple years ago I spent a good while looking for a product like this. After finding the options at the time lacking, I made something myself out of machined aluminum and one of the m.2 2242 NVMe to USB carrier boards you can buy here on amazon or on aliexpress. When I recently saw that SK Hynix, a brand I respect and trust, had come out with what looked like exactly the product I had been looking for, without the hassle of making another one myself, I excitedly grabbed one. Functionally it’s excellent and preforms well. It uses good components and is easy to recommend over traditional usb sticks for longevity, consistency, speed, and versatility. Additionally SK Hynix deserves praise for filling a glaring hole in the market. Now, when I first saw this, I assumed it would be made of aluminum, since that seemed the most logical choice, since it is sturdy, durable, and also has favorable thermal properties, allowing you to just use the case for thermal management, forgoing a more complex solution. However, this is instead made of plastic. This decision, while likely made for good reasons, also means that they needed to fit an additional thermal solution inside the case along with both the ssd board and the carrier board. This, and other considerations of the construction, means that this thing is a good 4mm wider and thicker, as well as 12mm longer than the device I made from aluminum. Now for most people who wouldn’t have anything to compare it to, this wouldn’t be an issue, but for me it takes it down from perfect to just ok. My only real nitpick with the device is that the cap is likely to get lost immediately, since it’s just friction fit and not connected to the device at all when loose. Still, it is a good device, and one that I can easily recommend to someone that just wants an off-the-shelf, portable, self-contained solution at a good price that can handle the kind of things you need a proper ssd for. For those looking to do a little more work there is also now an off-the-shelf solution with an aluminum case that is also available on Amazon sold under the brand ElecGear. Though the fit and finish is only so-so, it is considerably smaller and only requires that you purchase your own 2242 or 2230 drive and assemble the enclosure, which takes at most a few minutes. I still think I would recommend the T31 over that option for most people, but there are some people who would likely prefer the smaller sturdier construction.
It works as advertised and speeds are decent while holding a ton of stuff. Grab this on sale and get yourself a deal.
This product is surprisingly fast and Shaw good storage capacity
I bought this to transfer files from one computer to another. It is quite fast and has plenty of space. The size is compact, I have numerous other portable drives, both solid state and rotating disk drives but for backups and archives, but the portability and speed of this one is perfect for data transfer. (Don’t forget to format it before use as appropriate for your operating system.
It's an amazing palm sized external hard drive. Clone your drive and run it from this. Back up your video or data files. Mirror a hard drive for security. It's a reasonably priced option that didn't intimidate me from the start. It works well using a free disk genius app that allowed me to clone a drive on my laptop that has a buggy camera. They recommended saving what I could. I'll give them a clean slate and hopefully they get it right.lol Yeah the drive isn't a thumbdrive but I bet you could find one of those here instead. I was amazed how fast the thing was reading and writing. It was effectively slowed when I used my USB hub and the card reader but that was for experimental purposes. It is always going to find your computer bottlenecks and shake them in your face so you buy the next big thing. 😀 It's good from the box and a sleek design. Like others said. Get a usbC adapter and find a longer one so it plays well with the old USB hound dog. Crazy how that real estate is so valuable on these new machines.
This is a high quality m.2 ssd packaged into the size of a larger flash drive. They could work on aesthetics though, could look nicer, but functionally excellent